Brush and use thereof

ABSTRACT

A brush, comprising a brush head ( 1 ) that is connected to bristles ( 2 ). The brush head ( 1 ) has at least one opening ( 4 ) designed in the form of a rinsing channel ( 3 ) for cleaning the bristles ( 2 ). The brush can be used as a dishwashing brush.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a brush, comprising a brush head, which isconnected with bristles, and also refers to a use of the brush.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Brushes with bristles are generally known and can be used in variousareas; for example, as washing brushes.

Previously known washing brushes frequently can be washed out, aftertheir use, only with great effort and only with limitedsuccess—particularly if, beforehand, pasty, highly viscous soilings wereremoved from dishes. Frequently, these soilings settle firmly on theshaft of the bristles or bristle bundles, in the transition area to thebrush head. Often, in makeshift fashion, the soilings are then removedwith the aid of scissors or knives, wherein there is also the danger ofirreparably damaging the brushes.

If during the washing of the washing brush, flowing water strikes thebrush head from above, there is a large amount of spray, which isunpleasant for the user of the washing brush. Furthermore, the watersprays into the surroundings in an undesired and uncontrollable manner.

If, on the other hand, the attempt is made to clean the previously knownbrushes by washing out from the side, then it is frequently the casethat the soilings are moved still further between the bristles in thedirection of the brush head and in this way, settle even more firmlybetween the bristles.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A goal of the invention is to further develop a brush of the foregoingtype that can be cleaned more easily and rapidly following its use. Theundesired formation of spray water should thereby be minimized duringthe cleaning process of the brush.

To this end, a brush is provided, whose brush head has at least oneopening, designed as a cleaning channel, for the cleaning of thebristles.

What is advantageous with a brush according to the invention is that thebrush can be cleaned more easily and rapidly following its use. Thecleaning of the brush can take place by conducting a cleaning agent, forexample, flowing water, onto the bristles from above, through thecleaning channel in the brush head. In this way, the soilings which arefound between the bristles can be washed out. The advantageous effectcan be attributed to the fact that the washing out of the soilingspractically takes place in the opposite direction, relative to thedirection in which the soilings arrived between the bristles. There isno danger—as in the case of prior art bristle brushes—that the soilingssettle even more firmly between the bristles while the bristles arebeing cleaned.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the openings designed as cleaningchannels facilitate not only an easier washing out of the bristles, butalso that the cleaning channels designed as openings significantlyreduce the formation of spray water, for example, during the washing outof the brush under flowing water. This can probably be attributed to thefact that the water jet does not strike a plane, closed surface—as iscommon with prior art brushes—and is deflected from there and, in part,is hurled back; the water jet striking the broken surface of the brushhead is split and spray water formation is minimized.

Preferably, the brush head has several cleaning channels. Using severalcleaning channels, further improves the removal of soilings from thebristles and further reduces the formation of spray water.

The cleaning channels can be arranged so that they will be uniformlydistributed in the brush head. All bristles of the brush can be largelycleaned of soilings equally well in this way; dead spots not penetratedby the cleaning liquid are thereby avoided.

The cleaning channels can penetrate the brush head in the washingdirection, essentially vertically. Such aligned cleaning channels permita horizontal washing out of the brush head—for example, under flowingwater—and in this way, a very rapid washing out. Within a short time,most soilings are washed out of the bristles, residue-free.

The cleaning channels can have a gradual but constantly diminishingcross-section in the washing direction. In a manufacturing sense, thisis advantageous. Furthermore, the jet of the cleaning liquid can bedirected in a more targeted manner onto the critical places of thebristles in this way, where the soilings have settled when the brush isused.

The cleaning channels have an essentially rectangular or oval crosssection. In this way, the cleaning channels are shaped like slits. Onthe underside of the brush head, it is then possible to extend bristlesor bristle bundles along the circumferential limitation of the cleaningchannels.

According to one embodiment, it is possible to make provisions so thatthe cleaning channels are arranged transverse to the longitudinaldirection of the bristle head and are extended almost over the entirewidth of the brush head. Here, it is advantageous that the bristles orbristle bundles arranged over the entire width of the brush head arecleaned well.

The ratio between the width of the brush head and the width of thecleaning channels can be 1.1-1.5. For most applications, such a ratiohas proved advantageous, with regard to an easy cleaning of the brush.

The ratio of the width of the cleaning channels to their length on thesurface of the bristle head is preferably 3-6. Because of thecomparatively small width of the cleaning channels, a lot of material ofthe brush head remains on which the bristles or bristle bundles can beaffixed. A large number of bristles or bristle bundles provides aneffective cleaning of the surfaces to be cleaned.

At least some of the bristles can be joined together to form bristlebundles.

According to another preferred embodiment, provisions can be made sothat all bristles are joined together to form bristle bundles. Thejoining together to form bristle bundles is particularly advantageous ifthe bristle head has the openings, in accordance with the invention,because the fastenings of the bristle bundles can be grouped well aroundthe openings. Although the bristle bundles are very densely packed inthe area of their fastenings, the bristle bundles fan out on their sideturned away from the bristle head so as to attain a good cleaningperformance.

The bristles and/or the bristle bundles can be arranged at an incline,relative to the vertical washing direction in the bristle head.

With respect to the vertical washing direction, the bristles and/or thebristle bundles preferably define an angle which is 30-60°.

In comparison to bristles or bristle bundles which are arranged in thewashing direction in the brush head, not just the cleaning performanceof the brush is improved. The washing out of soilings is also improvedby the bristles and/or bristle bundles being arranged at an incline tothe washing direction, because a larger area is impinged on withcleaning liquid, wherein when the bristle bundles are used, the innerarea of the bristle bundles is also effectively washed out in this way.

According to a preferred embodiment, provisions can be made so that atmost two rows of bristle bundles are located between cleaning channelsadjacent to one another. All bristle bundles can be washed out well inthis way, because the bristle bundles of both rows are located in theeffective area of the cleaning channels. If substantially more rows ofbristle bundles were located between cleaning channels adjacent to oneanother, the cleaning would be complicated, because not all bristlebundles would be impinged on equally with the cleaning liquid throughthe cleaning channels.

The brush head can be shaped on its upper side, turned away from thebristles and/or bristle bundles. The advantage hereby is that the upperside of the bristle head can also be cleaned well.

According to another embodiment, the brush head can also be shaped in aconcave manner on its upper side, turned away from the bristles and/orbristle bundles and transverse to its longitudinal direction. If, forexample, the brush is cleaned by water flowing underneath, then thewater jet is channeled by the concave shape of the upper side of thebrush head practically in the direction of the openings so thatformation of spray (with cleaning fluid) is further diminished and abetter washing of the brush is provided.

The brush head can have a convex underside in its longitudinal and/ortransverse direction in which the bristles and/or bristle bundles areaffixed. With respect to effectiveness of the brush, such a developmentis advantageous. The bristles of the bristle bundle project both in thelongitudinal as well as in the transverse direction over thecircumferential border of the brush head, so that soilings can also beremoved without any problems even on sites which can be accessed onlywith difficulty, for example, in the transition area from the bottom ofa pot to the side wall of the pot.

To remove stubborn soilings, the brush head can have, on the front, ascraper which is curved forwards and upwards against the bristles and/orbristle bundles. Encrustations which could not be removed in the firstoperation by the bristles or bristle bundles of the brush alone can befirst broken up by the scraper and subsequently be more easily removedby the bristles or bristle bundles.

With reference to the scraper on the front, the brush head can also havea handle.

After a first shaping, the brush head and the handle can go over intoone another, as one piece, and be made of a uniform material. Withregard to a simple and low-cost manufacturing capacity, the brush headcan be made of a polymeric material. Due to its low weight, the brushcan be handled with ease and when used as a washing brush is alsorust-free and resistant to moist soilings and cleaning liquids. Due tothe integrity of the brush head and the handle, separation seams in thebrush are avoided; hygiene is thus improved.

According to another embodiment, the brush head and the handle can bejoined with one another in a detachable and nondestructive manner. Sucha development is advantageous, for example, if differently shaped brushheads and/or brush heads with differently shaped bristles and/or bristlebundles are to be used, according to need and the particularapplication, with one and the same handle. Even if the bristles and/orbristle bundles of the brush head are subject to a particularly highwear and tear, for example, in that rough impurities are to be removedfrom particularly rough surfaces, it is advantageous that, as needed, anew brush head can be joined with the handle which is subject topractically no wear and hear.

The invention also encompasses the use of a brush as was previouslydescribed. A brush with a brush head having at least one opening for thecleaning of the bristles and is shaped like a cleaning channel is usedin accordance with the invention as a washing brush. Especially for thisuse, a brush which can be washed out well is particularly advantageous.Even pasty, highly viscous soilings, which settle between the bristlesand/or between the bristles of the bristle bundles, following thecleaning of surfaces to be cleaned, can be washed out well due the shapeof the brush head, in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A brush according to the invention, and its use as a washing brush isdescribed in more detail below with the aid of FIGS. 1-4. These figuresshow the following:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a washing brush in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the washing brush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom a view of the washing brush of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a partial side sectional view of the front brush head of FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a brush that can be used as awashing brush. The washing brush includes a brush head 1, which isconnected with bristles 2. In the illustrated embodiment, all of thebristles 2 are joined together to form bristle bundles 10. Embodimentsof the invention using part bristles 2 and par, bristle bundles 10 oronly bristles 2 can also be used depending on the application.

In the illustrated embodiment, the brush head 1 is made of a polymericmaterial and has a unitary construction with the handle 14 with both thehead and the handle being made of the same material.

Three openings 4, in the form of cleaning channels 3, are located in thebrush head 1. The openings completely penetrate the brush head 1 in thewashing direction 5. The cleaning channels 3 are shaped as slits, whichare arranged transverse to the longitudinal direction 6 of the brushhead 1, and extend almost over the entire width of the brush head 1.

The ratio between the width 7 of the brush head 1 and the width 8 of thecleaning channels 3 is 1.3 in the illustrated embodiment. The ratio ofthe width 8 of the cleaning channels 3 to their length 9 on the upperside 11 of the brush head 1 is 4.5.

At the end opposite the handle 14 in the longitudinal direction of thebrush head 1, the brush head 1 has a scraper 13 which is curved forwardsand upwards against the bristle bundles 10. The scraper 13 is provided,to first break up stubborn encrustations, before the remaining broken-upsoilings can be removed from the bristle bundles 10.

The upper side 11 of the brush head 1 is shaped in a con concave mannereither plane or transverse to its longitudinal direction 6. If thewashing brush is washed under flowing water after it has been used, asshown in FIG. 2, flowing water, in the washing direction 5, strikes theupper side 11 of the brush head 1. The water passes through the cleaningchannels 3 and arrives at the bristle bundles 10 and there, washes evenpasty, highly viscous soilings from the bristle bundles 10. In theillustrated embodiment, two rows of bristle bundles 10 are arrangedadjacent to one another between the washing canals 3. In this case, thetwo rows of bristle bundles 10 can be impinged on with cleaning liquid(e.g., flowing water) via a cleaning channel 3.

The location of the cleaning channels 3, relative to the bristle bundles10 can be seen in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, one can also see, in addition tothe convex underside 12 in the transverse direction 7 of the brush head1, that the bristles 2 of the bristle bundles 10 define with thevertical washing direction 5 an angle α, which is 30-60° in theillustrated embodiment.

This connection is also shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, an portion of thebrush head 1 is shown in which the vertical washing direction 5 throughthe cleaning channels 3 is viewed in the longitudinal direction 6 of thebrush head 1, with which bristles 2 and/or bristle bundles 10 define theangle α.

As a whole, the washing brush, in accordance with the invention, hasvery good properties during a long period of use, because the bristles 2and/or the bristle bundles 10 can be cleaned simply and effectively bymeans of the cleaning channels 3, and the formation of undesired spraywater during the cleaning of the brush via the cleaning channels 3 thatpenetrate the upper side 11 of the brush head 1 is minimized.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A brush, comprising a brush head and bristlesconnected to the brush head, wherein the brush head has at least oneopening shaped as a cleaning channel to clean the bristles.
 23. A brushaccording to claim 22, wherein the brush head has several cleaningchannels.
 24. A brush according to claim 22, wherein the cleaningchannels are arranged in a uniformly distributed manner on the brushhead.
 25. A brush according to claim 22, wherein the cleaning channelspenetrate the brush head in a washing direction.
 26. A brush accordingto claim 25, wherein the cleaning channels have a gradually diminishingcross section in the washing direction.
 27. A brush according to claim22, wherein the cleaning channels have a substantially rectangularcross-section.
 28. A brush according to claim 22, wherein the cleaningchannels are arranged transverse to a longitudinal direction of thebrush head and extend almost over the entire width of the brush head.29. A brush according to claim 28, wherein a ratio between the width ofthe brush head and a width of the cleaning channels is 1.1-1.5.
 30. Abrush according to claim 22, wherein a ratio of a width of the cleaningchannel to a length of the cleaning channel on an upper side of thebrush head is 3-6.
 31. A brush according to claim 22, wherein at leastsome of the bristles are joined together to form bristle bundles.
 32. Abrush according to claim 22, wherein the bristles are arranged at anangle to a vertical washing direction through the brush head.
 33. Abrush according to claim 32, wherein the bristles define with thevertical washing direction an angle of 30-60°.
 34. A brush according toclaim 31, wherein at most two rows of bristle bundles are locatedbetween cleaning channels adjacent to one another.
 35. A brush accordingto claim 22, wherein the brush head has a planar upper side turned awayfrom the bristles.
 36. A brush according to claim 22, wherein the brushhead has a concave curve transverse to a longitudinal direction on anupper side thereof turned away from the bristles.
 37. A brush accordingto claim 22, wherein the brush head has a convex curved underside in alongitudinal direction on which the bristles are affixed.
 38. A brushaccording to claim 22, wherein the brush head has on a front side ascraper that is curved, forwards and upwards, against the bristles. 39.A brush according to claim 38, wherein the brush head has a handle onthe front side.
 40. A brush according to claim 39, wherein the brushhead and the handle are designed as one piece and made of a uniformmaterial.
 41. A brush according to claim 39, wherein the brush head andthe handle are connected with one another in a detachable andnondestructive manner.
 42. A method of using a brush, according to claim22 to wash an object.